While you're here
Nelson, Tasman and Abel Tasman: the sunny top of the South Island
Golden beaches, three national parks within reach, and the sunniest corner of the South Island.
8 min read · updated 2026-09
Nelson sits at the top of the South Island and consistently records some of the highest annual sunshine hours in New Zealand. It is also the only town in the country with three national parks close by: Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes. Add an unusually dense art, craft and food scene and it becomes the sort of place people book two nights for and then extend.
Abel Tasman National Park
New Zealand's smallest national park and, for many visitors, its most approachable. Golden sand beaches, clear water, a coastal track that runs the length of it, and almost no road access beyond the southern entrance at Mārahau.
- The Abel Tasman Coast Track is one of New Zealand's Great Walks — usually three to five days end to end, but it is designed to be sampled.
- Water taxis run from Kaiteriteri and Mārahau, drop you at a beach up the coast and pick you up later, so you can walk one section and boat the rest. This is the single most popular way to do the park in a day.
- Two tidal crossings on the track (notably Awaroa) can only be crossed near low tide. Plan around the tide table.
- Sea kayaking is superb here, often combined with a water taxi leg.
- Fur seals are common along the coast, and the beaches are safe for swimming in summer.
Golden Bay and beyond
Over the Tākaka Hill — a steep, winding, memorable climb — sits Golden Bay, which feels like a separate country. Te Waikoropupū Springs hold some of the clearest fresh water ever measured and are a wāhi tapu (sacred site), so they are viewed from the boardwalk only, with no entry to the water. Farewell Spit curves 26 kilometres out to sea at the top, and Wharariki Beach delivers the wild arch-and-dune scenery that ends up on postcards.
Nelson itself
- The Saturday morning market in the city centre is the best single introduction to the region's growers and makers.
- The World of WearableArt and Classic Cars Museum is an unlikely but genuinely excellent pairing.
- The Nelson region is one of New Zealand's main hop-growing areas, which is why the craft brewing here is taken seriously.
- The geographic centre of New Zealand is marked on a hill a short walk from town — the view is the real reward.
Getting there
| Route | Approximate driving time one way |
|---|---|
| Picton to Nelson | About 2 hours |
| Nelson to Mārahau (Abel Tasman) | About 1 hour |
| Nelson to Tākaka (Golden Bay) | About 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Nelson to Christchurch | About 6 hours |
| Nelson to Westport | About 3 hours |
If you are arriving on the Cook Strait ferry at Picton, Nelson is an easy same-day drive. Christchurch is not — break that trip at Kaikōura or on the West Coast.
Common questions
- Can I see Abel Tasman in one day?
- Yes. The standard approach is a water taxi up the coast in the morning, a two to four hour walk along the Coast Track, and a boat pick-up in the afternoon.
- Do I need to book Abel Tasman in advance?
- Water taxis and kayak trips book out over summer, and Great Walk huts and campsites must be booked through the Department of Conservation. Book ahead for December to February.
- Is the Tākaka Hill road difficult?
- It is sealed and driven daily by locals, but it is steep with tight corners and takes longer than the distance suggests. Allow extra time and take it slowly.
Make it a private day out
Your own local driver-guide for the day: you choose the stops, we handle the driving, the timing and the road knowledge. Add or drop places on the day as long as the finish time still works.
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